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THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND 
OTHER POEMS 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS 

AND 

OTHER POEMS 

By VALLEY FLOWER 




THE CORNHILL COMPANY 
BOSTON. MASS. 






G)pyright, 1918 
The Cobnhill Company 



©CI.A50;j774 

OCT -9 !9i8 



CONTENTS 

Page 

The Fairy Islands 1 

Joy River 3 

Land op Mystery 4 

Midsummer Ball 5 

Tiny Folks' Jubilee 7 

The Fay's Frolic 8 

Sweet Lullaby 9 

The Weavers 10 

The Christ is Born 11 

The Urchins 12 

Treasure Seeking 13 

In the Mermaid's Retreat 15 

The Minuet 17 

Flirtation 19 

A Heart's Mystery 20 

Old Glory's Land 21 

Thy Hearts Are One 22 

The Sons of Glory 24 

A Slumber Song 26 

Daisy Dreaming 27 

Seafarers 28 

The Coming Man 29 

After the Rain 31 

A Woodland Song 33 

First Zephyrs 34 

To a Violet 35 

Youth and Age 36 

Silvery Raindrops 37 

Little Lambkin 38 

Evening 40 

Dreamlets 41 

The Witching Hour 42 

Emigration 44 



Contents 

Page 

The Patron 45 

The Enchanted City 47 

Bird Songs 49 

Precious Thoughts 51 

Castle Land 52 

Little Red Men 53 

Peaceful Night 54 

Baby's Wardrobe 56 

The Rising Nations 57 

The Queen of the Night 59 

The Pageant 61 

The Favorite 63 

The Infant 64 

The Sky Garden 65 

The Great Magician . . . * 66 

Sleep 69 

The Moon of the Hour 71 

The Magic Ship 72 

The Lingering Day . .73 

Baby Blossom 74 

Twilight 75 

Inspiration 76 

Beyond .77 

The Japanese Courtship 79 

Roses 80 

A Revery 81 

Miss Springtime 82 

The Temple 83 

Nature's Child 85 

A New People 86 

Ring, Scottish Bells 88 

Expectation 90 

The Flowers' Gossip 94 

Baby Sailor 96 

Baby Land 97 

Nature's Music 98 

The Life of a Breeze 100 



Contents 

Page 

Little Cherub 101 

Life's Toys 102 

The Challenge 103 

After the War 104 

Music's Voice 106 

Flowers Patriotic 108 

Night and Day 110 

Old Glory Divine Ill 

Poppies and Lilies 113 

An Indian Courtship 114 

Little Fairies 115 

Tri-Color .117 

Life 11^ 

Mystery 120 

The j\L^.gic River 121 

Fleur-de-Lis 123 

The Captain, 1917 124 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND 
OTHER POEMS 



I 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND 
OTHER POEMS 

THE FAIRY ISLANDS 

Oh, come at dusk to the wide sea-shore, 

And look to the west with me; 
I'll show you there the Fairy Isles 

That he in the Sunset Sea. 

Those magic islands are wondrous fair; 

They are colored gorgeously 
With crimson and gold and lavender, 

In the midst of the Sunset Sea. 

They never are still, but float as they will 
Past mountain and meadow and lea; 

They change as they go, and are drawn to and fro 
By the tide of the Sunset Sea. 

Did you never see in those islands fair 

A castle or mountain or tree.^ 
They are all the work of the Sun Elves there, 

That flit o'er the Sunset Sea. 

Ah, I would I could go to those Fairy Isles, 

With the elves forever to be; 
But no mortal can cross the magic bridge 

That spans the Sunset Sea. 

[1] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

For the Sun makes a bridge with his golden beams. 

And the lord of this land is he; 
The tinted clouds are the Fairy Isles, 

And the sky is the Sunset Sea. 



i 



[2] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

JOY RIVER 

In the East, in crimson splendor, 
Rose the sun to crown the dawn; 

Temple bells along the river 
Sound to greet the rising morn. 

Opal lights upon the river 

Sampan sails of amber hue, 
Fading softly in the distance, 

Dark, against a sky of blue. 

Little craft of all description, 
Rice-boats tossing in the sun. 

Junks, are sailing on the river, 
And the day has just begun. 

Twisting, winding Irawadi, 

Coursing onward to the bay. 
On the banks and in the river 

Little Burmese children play. 

Fleeting day upon the river 

Passes softly into night. 
And the river, dark and tranquil. 

Sleeps beneath a blaze of light. 

Dark and mystic Irawadi, 

Twinkling lanterns hung on high> 

Little craft upon the river. 
Sleeping 'neath a starlit sky. 

[3] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

LAND OF MYSTERY 

I heard among the willow boughs 

A gentle, whispering, sighing sound, 
As though amid the swaying leaves 

A host of moving forms were found, 
Whose draperies, touching as they moved. 
The willow twigs bent to and fro. 
. My mother says 'twas just the wind; ^ 

I think it was the fairies, though. ■ 

Last night before I went to sleep. 

Closed tightly was the tulip's cup. 
It must have been a fairies' bed. 

Because this morn 'twas opened up. 
What made it close its petals soft. 

And open with the sunrise glow? 
My mother says 'twas nature's ways; 

I think it was the fairies, though. 

There are so many, many things 

I cannot understand at all. 
And even mother doesn't know 

Just why the snow and raindrops fall. 
And yet they say there are no sprites 

Or fairies, when they do not know 
How else such curious things could be. 

I think there must be fairies, though. 

[4] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

A MIDSUMMER BALL 

The moonlight is gUtt'ring, a soft subdued twitter- 
ing 

Comes from the nesthngs far up in a tree; 
A light wind is wav'ring, a soft, gentle sav'ring 

Of primrose and daisy abloom on the lea. 

Through the forest comes stealing a strange, eery 
feeling; 
It spreads through the brush and creeps over 
the mere. 
The moonlight seems brightened, the green moss 
is lightened; 
A soft glow of foxfire — the fairies are here! 

O'er the grass they come tripping, some flying, 
some skipping; 
Half drifting they seem, for they scarce touch 
the ground; 
In the glade they are swarming, their ranks 
quickly forming 
To join in the dance round the green elfin mound. 

The bluebells start chiming a soft cadence, timing 
The feet of the dancers who airily tread 

Mystic mazes and twirhng — the whole mass 
seems to be whirUng 
In serpentine twistings by royalty led. 

[5] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

The day is approaching; its light is encroaching 

On the time of the dancers, — already *tis 

dawn. 

See! the mound has yawned wide — trooping in at 

its side 

With an echo of laughter, the fairies are gone! 



[6] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

TINY FOLKS' JUBILEE 

When twilight, Uke a misty veil. 
Drops softly over hill and dale, 
When proud the silvery moon so fair 
Mounts silently her throne of air, 
When lost in dreams, lie wood and lake, 
'Tis then the fairy folk awake! 

From fairyland, the realm of dreams. 
O'er bridges built of moonlight beams, 
O'er paths upon the glassy lake, 
Through darksome glen and tangled brake, 
This fairy band from elfland go 
With footsteps light as falling snow. 

In spots by mortal eyes ne'er seen, 
Where mosses grow like carpets green. 
Among the ferns and violets blue. 
And blossoms fair of every hue. 
Where glow-worms golden, fireflies bright. 
Diffuse their tender misty light, — 

There trip the gay and merry band 

An airy dance of fairyland. 

And whirl so lightly round and round. 

Their twinkhng feet scarce touch the ground — 

Till, when the flush of dawn is seen, 

They flee in clouds of golden sheen. 

[7] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE FAYS' FROLIC 

Lighted by the firefly's gUmmer 
And the summer moon's pale light, 

By the mystic, winding river 
There is revelry tonight. 

Here, upon their reed-pipes playing, 

Are the tiny elfin band, 
And upon a toadstool sitting 

Is the king of fairyland. 

Guests arrive in dainty barges 

Made of water-lily leaves; 
For their sails are spread the cobwebs. 

That the garden-spider weaves. 

Merrily the hours are speeding, 

See the gallants' swords shine bright, 

While the ladies through their arches 
Gaily trip with footsteps light. 

But along the eastern horizon 
Shows the faintest tinge of dawn. 

And without a sign of warning 
All the fairy troop are gone. 



[8] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



SWEET LULLABY 

Hushaby, baby, shut your eyes tight, 
Around you is closing the dark, solemn night, 
Above you the stars shed their silvery light. 
Hushaby, hushaby, baby. 

Hushaby, baby, the birds are in bed. 
The breezes are rustling the trees overhead. 
The foxes and hares to their burrows have fled, 
Hushaby, hushaby, baby. 

Hushaby, baby, some day very soon. 

We too will take a trip up to the moon. 

We'll taste Milky Way with your own silver spoon 

Hushaby, hushaby, baby. 

Hushaby, baby, we'll see the bright stars, 
We'll visit them all from big Neptune to Mars, 
We even will call on the Polar afar. 
Hushaby, hushaby, baby. 

Then we'll ride home on a comet's long tail, 
We'll drink from the dipper as by it we sail, 
Through Cloudland we'll fly over meadow and 

dale, 
Hushaby, hushaby, baby. 



I 



[91 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE WEAVERS 

A tiny fairy messenger 

Before a spider stood, 
The former clothed in Lincoln green, 

And on his head a hood. 
"I come from Mab," he said, "the queen 

Who holds court in the wood. 

"She wishes you to weave for her. 

Upon the meadow green. 
Three beautiful pavilions. 

Full rich in silv'ry sheen. 
And make these palaces with care, 

Fit for the fairy queen. 

"And gather at the dawn of day, 

Dewdrops of crystal pure. 
Make them the very prettiest 

That you, sir, can secure. 
Hang them about the palaces. 

And that they're fine, be sure. " 

So spoke the fairy messenger. 

Then quickly went away; 
And each one of those castles fair * ' 

Was spun without delay. 
And you may see them if you look 

At dawn on some warm day. 

[10] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE CHRIST IS BORN 

Fall softly, ye clinging snowflakes, and change the 

world to white, 
And hide its stains, and make it pure; for the 

Christ is born tonight! 
Ye stars shine out in glory, and shed a holy light, 
And flood the world with silver rays; for the 

Christ is born tonight! 

O moaning winds of winter, stay in your course, 

be still! 
Till the Christmas bells the tidings tell of peace 

and God's good will. 
And tossing, restless branches; bend low o'er the 

ice-boimd rill. 
And wait till a whisper passes: "The Christ is 

bom! Good will!" 

Then bells that bring glad tidings, ring out! Ring 
loud! Ring long! 

Lift up your golden voices to join the world's 
great song. 

'Tis a hymn of grand rejoicing to hail the Sav- 
ior's birth; 

O wild winds, carry the sound away to the utter- 
most parts of the earth! 



[11] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE URCHINS 

Builded from a pile of sand. 
Grew a castle tall and grand, 
With its moat and winding stair, 
And a turret here and there. 
Standing guard beside the sea. 
What could more imposing be? 

From the shells and pebbles, too. 
Kings and queens and princes grew. 
This white pebble on the stair 
Represents a lady fair; 
And these tiny ones of gray; 
Soldiers to the king are they. 

Two and two they marching go, 
Bravely forth to quell the foe. 
Look! The enemy draws nigh. 
How the shells and pebbles fly! 
Terror-struck they turn and run. 
So the victory is won. 

'Cross the moat and through the door, 
Back the soldiers come once more. 
Soon the tide crept up and then. 
Softly crept it back again. 
And the castle tall and grand .^ 
Pebbles in a pile of sand. 

[12] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



TREASURE SEEKING 

"Oh, will you tell me, sir?" she asked; 

"I've hunted, all the day, 
And have not found a single one. 

And now I've lost my way. 

"I want to find a little elf; 

I've looked both high and low, 
But I can't see a sign of one; 

So pray, sir, do you know 

"Where I can find one fast asleep. 

And would you kindly tell? 
They are not in the primrose buds 

Or in the lily's bell. 

"I've hunted in the buttercups. 

And in the daisies white; 
For they must be somewhere today — 

I'm sure they danced last night. 

"I've looked beneath the spiders' webs. 
That dot the meadow green; 

For I have heard they are the tents 
Made for the fairy queen. 

[13] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

"So will you please to tell me where 

I'U find the elfin band? 
For I have grown so very tu*ed 

In search of fairyland. " 






[14] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



IN THE MERMAID'S RETREAT 

The moonlight danced on the waters blue, and the 

great round shining face 
Of the golden moon smiled merrily upon the 

desolate place; 
And the deep-blue sky bejeweled was with myriad 

worlds above, 
And the planet of war in the east shone bright, in 

the west the planet of love. 

On the shores of the murmuring rolHng sea, in the 

light of the kindly moon, 
I dreamed a dream of another world, from which 

I awoke too soon. 
I thought that the voice of the deep dark sea was 

calling for me to come 
And rest in its depths and Hve for aye in the fairy 

mermaid's home. 

I saw the wonderful, fair sea-folk with their 

tresses of shining hue, 
Which shone and sparkled like strands of gold in 

the dark of the water's blue; 
And they beckoned for me to go with them and 

sport in the great blue sea. 
And they sang of the joys of their ocean home as 

they stretched out their arms to me. 
[15]' 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

And I followed them down to the sea-god's realm, 

in the depths of the dark blue sea. 
And everythmg there seemed so wonderful and so 

beautiful to me. 
Alas! soon the vision vanished from before my 

enchanted sight, 
And faded away as the light of day fades into the 

dark of night. 

The moon shone high in the starlit sky and the 

planet of love was gone; 
The vision had vanished forever and aye, and left 

me there with the sea and sky 
To think and to dream alone. 



[16] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE MINUET 

'T was in a forest deep and green, 

Where stood old, hoary, moss-grown trees, 

That stretched their leafy branches out. 
And joined the murmuring of the breeze. 

'T was on a still, dark summer night, 
When silence lay on field and town. 

When sleeping flowers drooped their heads, 
And the silvery moon shone coldly down; 

When out of the stillness grew a soimd, 

A strain of elfin music sweet. 
And from the green-paved forest aisles 

The pattering of tiny feet. 

Out of the shadows deep they came 

Into a moonlit forest glen. 
Where the branches formed a leafy roof. 

And the moss ne'er echoed the steps of men. 

Each tiny fay was richly clad 

In flower-petals bright and fair. 
And dewdrop diamonds gleamed and flashed 

On snowy throats and shining hair. 

[17] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Then, while the nodding bluebells rang. 

The fairies danced till the night was done, — 

Till the wan moon sank behind the hills. 
And the wee stars faded one by one. 



[18] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



FLIRTATION 

The Sun, the glorious King of Light, 

Came riding toward the west; 
Clad in his golden robes of state, 

Oh, grandly was he dressed! 

He saw the pretty maiden clouds 

Who were in simple white; 
And brightly then he smiled on them. 

Which filled them with delight. 

He gave them robes of palest pink. 

Of yellow and of red; 
And then the maidens gathered near 

With "thank you's" to be said. 

And nearer, nearer still they came. 

To thank the King of Light; 
Then, getting quite in front of him. 

They shut him out of sight. 

The Sim went down behind the clouds, 

And left them hanging low; 
With colored dresses streaming out, Hj 

They made a Sunset Glow. 



[19] 



_^ 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

A HEART'S MYSTERY 

There are many mysteries of the mind. 

And nooks and crannies unexplored; 
A "Treasure Island" in each life, 

Where wondrous wealth is safely stored; 
The harbor, "Day Dreams," is the port; 

The only one where we may land. 
And leisurely our treasures view 

And feel the soul with awe expand. 

We find the things we never knew, 

And thoughts that never came before 
Surprise us with their strength and grace. 

And tempt us farther to explore. 
While old ideas, in diflFerent form. 

Lead into diflFerent trains of thought, 
And vague suggestions of the mind 

Into more definite shape are brought. 

Before the mind's eye visions fair. 

Of things before unseen, unheard, 
Pass by, a panorama grand, 

Until the heart is deeply stirred; 
The mysteries of heart and mind 

Are all laid bare, or so it seems, 
But at no other time except 

When one indulges in "day dreams." 

[20] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



OLD GLORY'S LAND 

O land that standest fair and free, 
Serene and safe from sea to sea, 
Thy snow-capped mountains kiss the sky, 
Thy plains in endless beauty lie; 
O'er golden sands thy rivers shine. 
Forest and rock and lake are thine; 
All countries and all climes compete 
To lay their treasure at thy feet. 

Thy starry banner gleams afar. 
On many seas thy white sails are; 
And weary captives turn to thee 
As to a hope and prophecy: 
And with thy watchword, "Liberty." 
God keep thee to thy mission true, 
O fairest land the world e'er knew. 



[21] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THY HEARTS ARE ONE 

Britain's Isles, ye are fair, in the midst of thy 
steel-circled waters. 
With thy cUflf-frowning coasts and thy storm- 
crested billows which guard! 
Strong thy ramparts, and stronger the soul of thy 
sons and thy daughters. 
Pledged to thee unto death, with a love which 
no weakness has marred! 

By the mighty Artificer's hand thy fair beauty 
was fashioned — 
Blue mountain and moorland, deep vales where 
thy bright waters steal. 
And deep in thy heart gleams the glow of thy 
glory impassioned; 
The soul of thy splendour in fervour the shadows 
reveal. 

Green-glowing and fair, silver-set, like an emerald 
jewel 
In the gHtter of seas — lo, by ravage of sword 
and of flame 
Shall thy wealth be despoiled, or be flung to war's 
furnace as fuel, 
By hosts of an empire that fain would thy glory 
defame? 

[22] 



J I 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Be thine emblem the shamrock or harp, be it rose 
or white heather, 
Thy hearts are united, thine Armies are rallied 
in line 
'Neath one Ensign of Saints; strength and honor 
are welded together — 
** Defender of Faith," the One Faith — be- 
fore Cross, before Shrine. 

Regent of Seas, trident-sceptred, with purple 
robes sweeping. 
Tradition hath crowned thee Defender of right 
and of law! 
The highways of ocean, war-conquered, thy 
Fleet hath for keeping. 
And famous the deeds of thy ships in the 
archives of war! 



[23] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE SONS OF GLORY 

Oh, honour to those who went while the strife was 
young, 
Who went from a world still gay, 
And, with never an "if" or a "but," to the con- 
flict sprung 
In a flash from their work or play — 
Who were caught in the leaping tide of a fresh- 
loosed fount. 
Crying "Here am I! All my own!" 
In whom Hope slew Fear, and who stayed not the 
cost to count 
As they rushed on the Thing Unknown! 

But honour to those who now, when the strife 
grows old 
And the glamour is past and o'er, 
When our hearts, turned sick, recoil from the 
sights unrolled 
On the horrible screen of War — 
Yes, honour to those who now, at the hour de- 
clared. 
To their place in the ranks are come! 
There are stones and stakes that can last — that 
can least be spared 
If the house is to stand at home. 



[24] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

So honour to him who stayed, from the field re- 
mote. 
On the field where he most was due. 
And who patient bore with the gibe at his old 
black coat 
While the rest were in Khaki new. 
Who, like Atlas, stood, with his world on his 
shoulders, there. 
While the rest to the strife leapt free. 
And whose thought runs — How is it now with 
his world to fare 
When the Voice saith, "I call for thee!" 

Then honour to those who went while the strife 
was yoimg, 
But honoured as well be they 
Who quietly, gravely, unlauded, uncheered, im- 
sung. 
Make them ready to go today — 
Who stood in the rear, a silent reserve of pow'r — 

Who, yielding their utmost, so. 
At call of their duty, stayed, and, when strikes 
the hour. 
At call of their duty go! 



[25] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

A SLUMBER SONG 1 

Slumber and sleep for the cloudless West 
Blushes "Good night," to the drowsy sun! 

Merrily, over the wave's bright crest, 
Home glide the fishing-boats one by one; 

Birdies are safe in their leafy nest, 
Flowers are folding — the day is done. 

Slumber and sleep, while the evening star 
Gleams in the West with a cold clear light! 

Over the valleys and hills afar 

Duskily falls the dim veil of night. 

E'en though the moon in her silver car. 

Floods the world wide with a radiance bright. 

Slumber and sleep, for the birds are still. 

Rocked into rest on the leafy tree! 
Only the wind sings over the hill. 

Singing a song to the sighing sea; 
Languidly murmurs the drowsy rill. 

Gliding along through the flowery lea. 

Slumber and sleep, while your cradle swings 

Languidly, easily, to and fro! 
Each light breeze through the window brings 

Perfume so sweet from the flow'rs below; 
Over your bed, on the night-wind's wings. 

Ever the sweet scents come and go. 

[26] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



DAISY DREAMING 

Ah, what do you dream about, 
Blue-eyed Prmcess mine. 

While the golden stars without 
On your slumber shine? 

Do you hear the angels sing 
Some celestial rhyme? 

Do you hear the bluebells ring 
In a silver chime? 

Do you see the fairies dance 

On the circled grass? 
Do you see Titania glance 

Where the moonbeams pass? 

Such a smile is on your face 
That I well might guess 

Fairyland shows you its graces, 
Heav'n its happiness ! 



[27] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



SEAFARERS 

Drifting to Shadowland, 

Drifting to sleep, 
Silver wings zephyr-fanned out on the deep! 

Evening lights softly shed 

Crimson of roses red 

Over thy cradle-bed — 

Sleep, baby, sleep! 

Fear not, my little one. 

Mists on the sea — 
Out to the dawn a-sail, seafarers we! 

Yet in thine eyes it seems 

More than earth's radiance gleams — 

Oh, baby, why thy dreams 

Hidden from me? 

Sailing to Shadowland, 

Saihng afar. 
Out from the sunset strand, imder night's star! 

LiUes thy hands entwine — 

Lo, in Heav'n's hght divine 

Sleepest thou — only mine 

Night's shadows are! 



[28] 



1 






THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE COMING MAN 

Today I'm just a little boy. I always go to school; 
I try to do my very best, and never break the rule. 
But what I am most proud of is, that, acting like a 

man, 
I never say, "I cannot, " but I try to think I can. 

Tomorrow will be dawning soon. To manhood 

I'll be grown; 
I want to be a hero with a name that will be 

known 
Through all the world. I wish to be a brave and 

great, good man, 
To never say, "I cannot," but to think, perhaps, 

I can. 

But as for my companions here, they laugh me 
quite to scorn; 

"You never will a hero be when dawns tomor- 
row's morn!" 

But yet, although they say I will be a great, good 
man, 

I never say, "I cannot," but I try to think I can. 



[29] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

I can if I do what is right, and always leave the 
wrong; 

I can if I try hard enough, and my desire is strong; 

And all through life's struggle, I shall try to be a 
man, 

And never say, "I cannot," when I think, per- 
haps, I can. 

Except in times of evil, when to good we are not 

true, 
In times when we are so perplexed we don't know 

what to do; 
Then, when I'm asked to do some wrong, I'll 

answer like a man. 
And always say, "I cannot," even though I 

think I can. 

So I shall base tomorrow on the ground I base to- 
day. 

And always I'll be careful in whate'er I do or say. 

And when I'm asked to do some good, I'll answer, 
Uke a man, 

I'll never say, "I cannot," when there is one 
chance I can. 



130] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

AFTER THE RAIN 

The welcome summer rain has passed away, 

The royal sun reigns o'er blue realms once more; 
Though here and there a patch of sober gray 

Reminds us of the storm so lately o'er. 
The queenly rose resumes her native grace, 

And shakes the rain-drops from her blushing 
cheek; 
The pure, white bindweed lifts her happy face, 

And turns toward the sun with glances meek. 
'Neath heaven's blue canopy soft breezes pass, 

On scented wings, still sweetening as they move, 
And whisper to the happy meadow grass. 

And happier flowers their tale of changeless love 

And birds burst forth the freshened woods 
among. 

Lark, merle, and robin in a gush of song. 

So when the rain of grief has passed away. 

And joy's glad sun has made life's picture fair — 
Though in the firmament some tints of gray. 

Some pleading fears and galling doubts may 
share — 
Then rosy pleasures hand in hand arise. 

And summon pride to lay the dead past low. 
And pure, white hope looks up with happy eyes. 

As if on earth were no such thing as woe. 



[31] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Then dreams and yearnings o'er the future years 
Spring into being from the busy brain. 

And wondrous fabrics fairy fancy rears. 
Peopled with forms as beautiful as vain. 

And melodies where hope and love take part. 
Ring through and through the chambers of the 
heart. 



[32] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



A WOODLAND SONG 

A mist still lies on the distant hills, 

And the dew is on the rose; 
The song-birds carol their joyous trills, 

And the East with the sunrise glows 
As I pass down the shaded woodland path. 

Where the early morning air 
Is filled with the Linnsea's fragrant breath, 

That tells of its presence there. 
And the ripphng brook that winds along 

Through gardens of Nature's art. 
Re-echoes the clear and joyous song 

That rises from my heart. 

And hand in hand with fancy. 

With idle thoughts and dreams. 
Through woodland aisles I wander on 

By tranquil, murmuring streams. 
For the sweetest hours of vacation's rest, 

And placid Elysian ease, 
Are those I spend near Nature's breast, 

With flowers and birds and trees. 



[33] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



FIRST ZEPHYRS 

Airs of Spring! 

Sway and swing, 

Free and fling 
The scarce unfurled green banners of the trees ! 

Playful breeze! 

Toss and tease, 

Loose and seize 
The curling plumed white pennons of the clouds 
Now straying, and now scampering in crowds 

Across the blue, 

AUve with you, 

Airs of Spring! 

Airs of Spring! 

Stir and sting. 

Will and wing. 
Out to the light all joys in that man that flow 

Ere he know. 

Longings slow. 

Fires that glow 
And blossom suddenly in deeds of flame, 
Sure of their right to be, sure of their aim; 

Man's might make new, 

More live than you, 

Airs of Spring! 



[34] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



TO A VIOLET 

Flower, your petals unfold, 

Now that the sun is a-shining, 
Winter is over; be bold — 
Flower, your petals unfold, 
Show us your center of gold. 

Show us its velvety lining. 
Flower, your petals unfold. 

Now that the sun is a-shining. 

Hasten your heart to unfold; 

Sun cannot ever be shining. 
Air may grow foggy and cold; 
Hasten your heart to unfold; 
You may grow withered and old. 

Vain would be then your repining. 
Hasten, your heart to unfold; | 

Sun cannot ever be shining. 



[351 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



YOUTH AND AGE 

The young folk laugh and play in the sun, 
The old folk sit by the fire and dream; 

For those 'tis the glory of June begun, 
For these 'tis the sunset's lingering gleam. 

The young wave rises so fearless and free. 

The spent wave breaks with a moan on the shore; 

Tall midst its leaves stands the gay green tree. 
The old is fallen — 'T will blossom no more. 

Sweet is the time when the roses blow. 

And the blackbirds sing in the swaying leaves. 

Cold is the winter with storm and with snow. 
And the wind wails sadly in autumn eves. 

Soundeth it mournfully — sadly? And yet 
Travail and sorrow come surely to all! 

There is but one sun that shall never set. 
There is but one joy that shall never pall. 

Sing, O bright youth, in the turquoise light. 
But know that the playtime of youth must 



cease 



Fear not, O age, the swift oncoming night, 
Only so live that it fold you in peace. 



[36] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



SILVERY RAINDROPS 

In the shadow of the evening, 
FaUing on the window pane, 

Dashing, racing, mingUng, chasing, 
Come the silvery drops of rain; 

Leaving tiny wakes behind them, 
Like the comets in the sky, 

Or, hke tiny stems of flowers. 
Making bouquets as they fly. 

Now the twilight turns to daylight; 

And the sun comes smiUng out; 
Where are now the silvery raindrops 

That the winds have blown about? 



[37] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



LITTLE LAMBKIN 

Can you tell me who has brought you, 
Who has made you, who has taught you 
All the wistful love you bring — 

Through the night of doubt and sorrow. 
Like the spirit of tomorrow; 

Like the first flow'r in the Spring? 

All the bitter skies are weeping, 
All the tired woods are sleeping. 

When your sweet eyes smiled at me — 

From a sky too dark for snowing, 
From a night too deep for blowing — 
Cooing from Eternity. 

Was the journey long behind you? 
Did you guess that I should find you. 
Little face so like a rose? 

Sweetest end to love's sweet story, 
Tiny spray of God's great glory. 
How we love you no one knows! 



[38] 






h 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Nobpdy could guess, win at guessing, 
Half the solace, half the blessing, 
That you brought that day. 

Now your presence throws a sweetness. 
With Heav'n's rare and true completeness. 
O'er a world of gray! 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



EVENING 

When gentle Night her purpling robe o'er all 
The throbbing, heated city softly draws, 
When cooling winds fan out the sultry air. 
And the Dream angel smiles from Heaven above; 
Then, when the white sleep-portals open wide, 
And the great world slips far away beyond, 
Before closed eyes the half-lit pathway lies, 
And Dusk stands beckoning to the Land of 

Dream. 
Beside the way tall, nodding poppies grow. 
Loading the air with drowsy, scented breath; 
And wearied crowds seek there forgetfulness — 
But on the mountain-side the air blows free. 
And slender fawns slip through the silvered path; 
Dew diamonds hang on every shaking leaf. 
And spiders' webs shine silver in the way; 
Among the lichen, on a rotted stump. 
The glow-worms shine, the lamps that light the 

way; 
Till, stealing through the hush of scented pines, 
The ridge is reached, and stretching down below, 
Lies, wrapt in mist, the Wonderful Beyond. 



[40] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



DREAMLETS 

There is an island far away 
Where I should love to go, — 

The Isle of Dreams, — the road to it 
All little babies know. 

It lies within the Lake of Sleep, 

So pretty, soft, and green; 
A tiny boat runs to and fro. 

Steered by the Slumber Queen. 

And on this isle a lady dwells — 

Sweet Lady of Repose; 
And every day with poppy seeds 

Her garden green she sows. 

So, when the babies come at night. 
Each one may pick the flowers; 

And from the poppy-beds she shakes 
Sweet little dreams in showers. 

And so they wake, with lovely tales 
Of what they've dreamt all night, 

When snuggled in her sheltering arms, 
All safe from harm and bright. 



[41] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE WITCHING HOUR 

The fairies' own time is the twilight — 

*Tis the sweet gloaming hour that's most dear — 
Then they come from the old books enchanted 

And sit on the hearthstone — quite near; 
And, if you will speak to them softly 

They will tell you of wonderful things, 
And show you their glittering tresses 

And beautiful butterfly wings. 

They will dance with the gathering shadows, 

And sing to you low as they dance, 
Till your young hearts have melted in silence 

That seems the whole worid to entrance; 
They will whisper wild stories in music 

Like to ripphng of waters in June — 
Wild stories of terrible monsters 

That travel afar when 't is noon 
To snatch up the loveUest of children 

That wander from home far away 
To gather her pale starry primroses. 

Or bunches of rosy-cheeked may. 

They will tell you of haunts in the forest 
That they dance in each midsummer night 

When the moon's at the full, and its radiance 
Is flooding the woodlands with light — 



m 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Of the dear fairy rings 'mong the clover. 

Of the gray mists that hover around. 
And how bells of the foxglove ring softly 

When fairies run swift o'er the ground — 
How the cups of the exquisite lilies 

Are the houses they sleep in at night, 
And the petals of bramble-rose crimson 

The curtains to hide the starUght. 

They will give you bright dreams to go with you — 

Through the years that are waiting for you — 
Dreams fair as the violet flowers 

When touched by the crystalline dew; ^ 

They will breathe in your ears fairy nonsense 

And weave you a mystical charm 
That shall keep you wherever you wander 

Afar from misfortune and harm. 

The fairies' own time is the twilight — 

'Tis the sweet gloaming hour that's most dear — 
Then they come from the old books enchanted 

And sit on the hearthstone — quite near; 
And, if you will speak to them softly 

They will tell you of wonderful things. 
And show you their glittering tresses 

And beautiful butterfly wings. 



[43] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

EMIGRATION 

Oh, the racing and the chasing of the leaves ! 
Rusthng hurly-burly o'er the lawn; 

Rising, falling, wheeling, sliding. 

Into byways stealing, hiding; 
Seeking crowds that just before have gone. 
Oh, the pacing, racing, chasing, of the leaves! 

Oh, the hurry and the flurry of the leaves ! 
Piling up like grains in sandy drift; 

Then hke ocean-spray dissolving, 

Running, rioting, revolving, 
Every little wriggler for himself a-shift. 
Oh, the lifting, drifting, shifting, of the leaves! 

Oh, the antics of the frantic little leaves ! 
Playing rustic games with wildest glee; 

O'er each other gaily vaulting. 

Plunging, pushing, somersaulting, 
Little leaves bewildered, gay and free, 
Oh, the rustling, hustling, bustling, of the leaves ! 

Oh, the huddles and the muddles of the leaves ! 

Like a cloud of swallows in the street; 
Standing with their wings a-flutter, 
How they scold and crowd and mutter, 

Then away they skurry light and fleet. 

Oh, the hurry, skurry, flurry, of the leaves! 

[44] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE PATTERN 

We are weaving the threads of our life-web, 

Day by day; 
And its colors are sometimes sombre, 

Sometimes gay; 
For we dye it with every passing thought. 
With our words and deeds is the pattern wrought. 

The pattern will grow into likeness 

Of our creed; 
If the thought be loving and tender. 

Fair the deed. 
It glows with a beauty rich and rare. 
And its fadeless colors are passing fair. 

But, alas ! it is interwoven 

Oft with sin; 
And the sombre thread of an evil thought 

Is woven in; 
The pattern is marred as the shuttles fly, 
And the colors fade as the days go by. 

We are weaving our webs for eternity. 

Day by day; 
If we make the pattern beautiful — 

As we may — 
The Master-weaver will, one by one, 
Bless the glowing colors, and say, "Well done!" 

[45] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Our weaving days will be over 

By and by. 
And the busy shuttles motionless 

And silent lie; 
God grant that each weaver may do his best, 
That his finished fabric may stand the test! 



[46] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE ENCHANTED CITY 

Come in the hour when the daylight fades 
And the lamps are ht in the green arcades — 
The glow-worm lamps and the dewdrops bright 
All strung like stars in the moon's clear light — 
And here you shall mingle and pass along 
The fairy streets with the fairy throng. 

Yonder, all shadowed and cool and fair, 
Is the sanctuary where the nuns at pray'r 
Are the white-robed lilies whose innocent eyes 
Are pure with the visions of Paradise, 
And solenm and sweet is the wind's low psalm 
In the cloistered silence of evening calm. 

And yonder — with leafy dome and spire — 

A-thrill with ^Eolian harp and lyre 

And the silver music of hidden rills. 

Is the dancing-hall of the daflFodils, 

And the hall where the roses of June-tide hail 

The exquisite song of the nightingale. 

And list! From the stream where the moon-rays 

glance. 
And flicker and whirl like a fire-fly dance. 
Flutes the wind in the reeds Uke the pipes of Pan, 
With the same sweet sound since the world began, 
To lure your feet over moor and fell 
To the golden meadows of Asphodel. 
[47] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

And here for awhile you shall leave behind 
The things that trouble your heart and mind, 
And the beautiful thoughts that your child-heart 

knew 
In the fairy hour shall come back to you, 
And your soul shall be one with the peace that lies 
O'er the dreaming earth and the dreaming skies! 



[48] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



BIRD SONGS 

Morning 

I walked in the woods in the morning, 

And I saw the fairy lace 
That the spiders had spun in the moonlight 

As a veil for the fairy's face; 
And the dewdrops sparkled hke jewels. 

And the birds sang in the trees, 
And the flowers held up their dainty heads 

With honey for the bees. 

Noon 

I roamed in the woods at noon-time, 

But the fairy lace was gone! 
And the jewels that sparkled brightly 

Were stolen by the sun. 
The bees hummed cheerfully to the brook. 

As they both went on their way; 
And for the creatures of the woods 

It was a happy day. 

Evening 

I walked in the woods at twilight. 

When all was hushed and still 
But the hooting owls, and the brooklet, 

And the voice of the whip-poor-will. 

m 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

I felt so very happy 

That I could do no wrong; 
For God, like the stars, was watching, 

And helped me make this song. 



[50] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

PRECIOUS THOUGHTS 

I like to think of Him when at twilight the tide 
Hes low, 

And the boats slip out from the beach with meas- 
ured oar and slow, 

I like to think how He walked on the shore of 
Galilee, 

And saw with the eyes of the Christ the common 
things we see. 

I like to think of Him when the sunrise colors 

spread 
Over a world that has seemed sleeping and still 

and dead. 
How at Gennesaret they flashed over His wan, 

brave face. 
Taking the dark night out, putting God in its 

place. 

I Uke to think of Him as I walk each walk of life. 
How His eyes looked straight at God, how His 

hands cured sin and strife, 
I Uke to dream of Him when the night is cool and 

still. 
Brother and Friend and Christ, Deed of a perfect 

will. 



[51] 



X 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

CASTLE LAND 

In the fields of night there were fairies white, and 

up in the blue, blue sky, 
On a bank of stars, there were fairy-cars, in the 

light of the moon going by; 
And I longed to race, with the wind in my face, 

up there, but the wish was vain. 
For old nurse said, as she shook her head, "You 

are building castles in Spain!" 

In the firelight gleam I used to dream of the grown- 
up world away 

In the far-oflF years, and I had no fears for the 
future great and gay. 

For the life-way old had a glow of gold from the 
gate of the sunrise land. 

And "the thoughts of youth are long, long 
thoughts, "and the wise cannot understand. 

And now, sometimes, as in elfin chimes, through 

the hurry and rush and roar. 
The child-songs sweet and the visions fleet steal 

back to my heart once more. 
I'm a woman — yes, yet I fail to guess life's puzzle 

of joy and pain, 
And my dreams still wait at the golden gate of the 

castles I built in Spain. 



[52] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



LITTLE REDMEN 

There's a play-house by the hemlock, 
Where the woods are dark and still; 

There's a shanty by the "deep hole," 
And a fortress on the hill. 

There's a bonfire in the woodland, 
And the branches overhead. 

Crackling as the flames rise higher. 
Start the rabbit from his bed. 

And the war-whoop from the valley, 
Where the underbrush is deep. 

Tells that spring has filled the forest 
And the world is not asleep. 

There is laughter from the meadow. 
From the thicket dark and dense; 

There are soimds of childish laughter 
From the wigwam by the fence. 

Oh, the whole wide world is laughing, 
In the balmy springtime haze. 

To the hearts that know not sorrow 
In the happy childhood days ! 



[53] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

PEACEFUL NIGHT 

Sunset! The orb of gold dips in the evening mist. 

Colors arise and gild the darkening skies 
With rose and amethyst. 
Globules of light change all the sea-foam white. 

Into a path of gold. 
O mortal eyes ! canst still His glory see, and yet 

not blinded be? 
For God a glimpse of heaven shows to thee 

At ebbing tide. 

Twilight! The gilded clouds fade swiftly into 
pearl; 
The sun departs, yet thrusts its rosy darts 
Into the purple swirl. 

Gold hght spurts forth, — and dies, spraying the 
eastern skies 
With coral and with gold. 
O lovely sea! the smile of God is mirrored deep 

in thee. 
That man His countenance again may see. 
At ebbing tide. 

Evening! The blue grows deep, and from the 

farthest precincts of the sky 
A flick'ring light, one tiny silver lantern in the 

night. 
Glimmers and twinkles in the heavens high. 

[54] 



i 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Deep in the ocean deep, where she has lain asleep, 
The' moon arises, silvery and bright. 

What sweeter way could God's great love for thee 
described be. 

Than this soft miracle of sky and sea 
At ebbing tide? 



[55] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



BABY'S WARDROBE 

Only a little stocking, 
Only a well worn-shoe; 
Only a little golden curl 
Tied with a ribbon blue. 
Just a little broken doll 
With which she loved to play; 
Only a little empty cot 
Where once my darling lay. 
Only these cherished relics 
Of her I loved so well. 
Only a mother's broken heart 
The sad, sad tale to tell. 



[56] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE RISING NATIONS 

In the land of ice and snow, 
There we find the Eskimo. 
Living in a hut of ice 
Which he thinks is very nice. 

Then in far Japan we find 
Children of another kind. 
Yellow faces, jet-black hair. 
What a cunning Httle pair! 

Gretel, from the Netherlands, 
Rosy cheeks, and dimpled hands. 
Velvet skirts, and shoes of wood. 
Flaxen curls and linen hood. 

On Yick, a Chinese is he. 
Feeds on small rice cakes and tea. 
Flying kites, the Hvelong day, 
Is, in China, a great play. 

In our own great Native Land, 
Children are a mighty band. 
Golf and tennis; foot-ball, too! 
We have many things to do. 

[57] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Children here, and children there. 
Children playing everywhere; 
Either climate, cold or warm. 
Children there are sure to swarm. 



[58] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT 

O little, flashing firefly, 
Flitter, flutter, guide me by, 
Past the horned owl so grim, 
Past the shadows, wavering dim. 

Lead me, by your tiny light, 
Down the hill and through the night, 
O'er the wall, until we come 
To the mystic, fairy home. 

Elves and fairies hurry here, 
Guided by the lights so clear. 
From the shadows comes the queen. 
Sparkling in her satin green. 

All the flreflies form a row. 
Swaying, swinging, to and fro; 
With the frogs, the cricket choir 
Lift their voices, soaring higher. 

Loved and honored, just and fair, 
Queen of fairies, follow there, 
Torches hght her mossy way. 
Dance along, O sprites so gay. 

[69] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Children here, and children there. 
Children playing everywhere; 
Either climate, cold or warm, 
Children there are sure to swarm. 



158] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE QUEEN OF THE NIGHT 

O little, flashing firefly, 
Flitter, flutter, guide me by. 
Past the horned owl so grim. 
Past the shadows, wavering dim. 

Lead me, by your tiny light, 
Down the hill and through the night, 
O'er the wall, imtil we come 
To the mystic, fairy home. 

Elves and fairies hurry here. 
Guided by the Kghts so clear. 
From the shadows comes the queen, 
Sparkling in her satin green. 

All the fireflies form a row. 
Swaying, swinging, to and fro; 
With the frogs, the cricket choir 
Lift their voices, soaring higher. 

Loved and honored, just and fair. 
Queen of fairies, follow there, 
Torches light her mossy way. 
Dance along, O sprites so gay. 

[59] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Thus they dance the long night through. 
Till the moon is pale in hue. 
Till the fireflies' torches wane. 
And the owls wing home again. 



160] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE PAGEANT 

Oh, ships, that lie at anchor, 

The port at last is won ! 
T\Tiile the evening star gleams out afar, 

And sounds the sunset gun. 
At peace ye are in haven; 

Secure and free from care. 
Nor brooding dove, nor raven, 

Disturbs your vigils there. 

In cloudland's gorgeous splendor 

The crimson fires delay, 
A pageant fair, beyond compare. 

Attends the dying day; 
The waters calm that bound ye 

Are all with sunbeams sown. 
And the ripples sparkle round ye 

As if with jewels strewn. 

Yet soon shall come the parting — 

Many to sail afar 
At the dawn of day will steal away — 

Across the sandy bar; 
For some with toil must measure 

Their share of daily bread; 
And some in search of pleasure 

Their fluttering pinions spread. 

[61] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

O ships! ye set me musing 

On other scenes of bliss. 
Where, to longing eyes, a haven lies, 

In a lovelier land than this; 
O ships ! in the harbor lying, 

Type of that heaven to me. 
Where come nor storms, nor sighing. 

And souls shall anchored be. 



[62] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE FAVORITE 

Nature's the teacher, patient learner, I; 

Where'er I turn, her unnumbered glories shine; 
She greets me in the morn, when thrushes 

sing. 
When hearts are light and all birds on the 
wmg. 
And in the mellow afternoon's decline, 
When shadows creep along the sunlit sky. 

Nature's the singer, earnest hstener, I, 

I hear her voice amid the streamlet's play. 

Or sometimes when the wind, with hollow 

roar. 
Runs softly through the reeds along the 
shore; 
And in the sea's eternal roundelay. 
Or in the night-owls' shrill and piercing cry. 

Nature's the artist, the observer, I; 

'T is she who paints the rose a blushing red. 
And all the leaves and meadows emerald, 

when 
The springtime comes, to gladden us again, 
And in the dewy morn when Night is fled, 
She weaves a golden veil about the sky. 



[63] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE INFANT 

Flowers and leaves from the Dreamland Tree 

Fall on the baby's eyes. 
What does he hear and what does he see. 

As in my arms he lies? 

Every leaf carries a picture too fair 

For any but babies to see. 
Tales told by the flowers are sweeter by far 

Than any of Mamma's can be. 

Gentle sleep paints all the pictures so bright. 

Teaches each blossom a tale. 
Then on the little sweet slumbering eyes 

Scatters the flowery hail. 

Smile follows smile over tender red lips. 

Breathing is soft and low; 
How fair the stories and pictures are. 

Only the babies know. 



[64] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE SKY GARDEN 

The great sky is a garden fair. 

And in the velvet gloom, 
At night, among the meadows there, 

The starry flowers bloom. 

The forget-me-not and violet 

Are stars so very small 
That often one must look and look, 

To see them there at all. 

The lovely rose-star blossoms near 
The sunflower bold and bright; 

The buttercup and daisy stars 
Wink saucily all night. 

The red moon is the gardener 
Who tends the starry lawn. 

And smiles benignly o'er it all 
Until the break of dawn. 

And so they blossom all night through, 

And never, never die; — 
These myriads of flowers 

In the garden of the sky. 



[65] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE GREAT MAGICIAN 

Veiled in chaos grey, designing 

Precious gifts for worlds unborn, 

Allah dreamed the wonder-light^ of cloudland. 

Dreamed and loved them into life. 

And so fair great Allah found them, 

Half regret their transience stirred. 

Till the mighty Dream fulfiUer 

Thus in self -communing spoke : — 

"Ah! so fleeting are my beauties, 
Blazoned over cloudland fair, 
I will give their tints to blossoms, 
All the summertide to wear. 

"Weave the damask flush of day-break 

Through thy velvet petals, rose; 

Poppies, wear the day's last flame of crimson. 

Fleur-de-lis, its purple close. 

Saffron-bright, the grey cloud's lining. 

Dye thy petals, marigold; 

And the watchet hue of unflecked heavens. 

Pale forget-me-nots, unfold. 

"Still so fleeting," whispered Allah, 
" Under autumn's frosty breath. 
All my tender blossoms losing color 
Wear the cerements of death. 

[66] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Once again I'll weave their color 
Into forms less fugitive; 
Every petal tint in birdland plumage, 
Winning longer life, shall live." 

Flaming ensigns, then, of flower-land 
Bore the woodland birds away; 
Scarlet tanager unfurled the poppy's, 
Blue-bird waved the hare-bells gay; 
Signor Oriole was robed 
Richly a la marigold; 
Every bright-hued blossom saw its favors 
Worn by winged, lovers bold. 

Still long moons the winter hid them. 
Banished gay-clad bird and song. 
"Yet another life-lease," quoth great Allah, 
"Must my color joys prolong." 

Gems and jewels then he tinted. 

Rivaled bird and blossoms hue; 

Dyed the amethyst in aster purple, 

Gentian matched in sapphire blue; 

Buttercups re-shone in amber. 

Peonies in rubies gleamed; 

Star-flowers twinkled fairer still in diamonds. 

Pearls like blushing lilies seemed. 



[67] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Then spake Allah, glory lighting 

All the space his presence filled, 

"While the earth lasts, be your gleam eternal, 

I have wrought the thing I willed." 

Out of dream-Hght into dawning 
Wonder-rapt my senses stole. 
Was the incarnation wrought for colors 
Through the ages wrought for soul? 



I 



(I 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



SLEEP 

When stars gleam out in the evening skies 
And flowers are hanging their weary heads, 

We journey off to a distant land, 

As the Kttle ones rock in their cradle beds. 

We glide through the twilight of Drowsy Lane, 
Where weary white eyelids drop softly down 

And cover the light of the merry eyes 

That are blue and hazel and gray and brown. 

We reach the valley of Half -A wake. 
Where the shadows ever so lightly fall, 

And come to the dusk- veiled Bridge of Doze, 
Where giant Dreams are the warders tall. 

And then, as the little heads nod and sway 
And lower and lower sink slowly down, 

We come to the wonderful Land of Sleep 
And enter its city, fair Slumber-town. 

The stars are the golden lamps that light 
The vision-paved streets of that city fair. 

And lullabies are the music sweet 
That softly falls on the drowsy air. 

[69] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

And white-winged dreamlets like angels float 
Above the spot where the children sleep. 

And whisper them tales of wondrous things 
As they rock them off into slumber deep ! 



[70] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE MOON OF THE HOUR 

We came from the Land of the Setting Sun 

To the Land of the Rising Moon; 
When all the glory of day was done, 
And a hush was over the earth, while one 
Lone little star peeped out too soon. 

In a boat with silver sails we came. 

On a sea of aquamarine; 
Behind, the sky was all aflame; 
Before, the ruler of night — our aim — 

Rose, a majestic queen — 

An orange moon in a purple sky. 

Slowly she rose from the sea 
At the prow of our boat. My love and I 
Steered from the Land of Things Gone By 

To the Land of What Is To Be. 



[71] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE MAGIC SHIP 

I dreamt as I lay on the golden sand, 
With the heaven's blue stretching above; 

And the waves sang a. song that no heart could 
withstand, 
It was so overflowing with love. 

I dreamt that I saw a beautiful ship 

Being blithely blown over the sea; 
And the masts were of gold and the sails were of 
silk, 

And there it lay waiting for me. 

As I stepped aboard my beautiful barge. 

There appeared fairies three; 
One went to the bow, and one went aloft, 

And the sweetest one steered for me. 

They sang me a song, a beautiful song. 
That mingled its notes with the sea, 

Till it reached the Isle of Eternal Joy 
And Endless Melody. 



[72] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE LINGERING DAY 

Just at the close of day, when earth and sun 

Meet for one blazing moment heart to heart, — 
One farewell kiss before he passes on, — 

The golden light still Ungers, loath to part. 
Then come the great world's busy workers home; 

Bees seek their hives, the little birds their nest; 
The reaper and his horses, flecked with foam, 

Find cheery welcome and a grateful rest. 

There, as the twilight deeps to purple gloom, 

Gathers the little brood about his knee. 
Over the garden and the apple-bloom 

Breath of the flowers is wafted soothingly. 
Happily then the triumphs of the day 

Pass in review. To-morrow's plans are laid. 
Now song and story while the time away. 

And as the angelus chimes a simple prayer is 
said. 

So, when the sun of active Ufe dips low. 

Leaving thee naught but golden memory. 
Dearer by far than all but thee can know, 

Call not thy life old age, but let it be 
Only an hour between the dark and day 

To raise thy weary head, and, breathing deep, 
To feel the triumph of a task well done. 

And find thy God before thou fall asleep. 
[73] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



BABY BLOSSOM 

The sandman is coming, coming, coming; 

Slowly, but surely, he's coming along; 
Softly he's humming, humming, humming 

To put you to sleep with his cradle song. 

Then he will lift you, Kft you, hft you 
In his arms as light as a thistleblow; 

And then he will drift you, drift you, drift you 
In his boat to the island where dreamlets grow. 

Then he will shake you, shake you, shake you 
A wee, pretty dream from the golden tree; 

Then he will take you, take you, take you 
And carry you safely back to me. 



[74] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



TWILIGHT 

Twilight and a silent river, 

Silver, fading into gray. 
Lilac lights that burn and quiver. 

Burn, and glow, and fade away 
In the still heart of the river. 

Cobweb spans and elfin arches 

Looming strangely through the dusk; 

Breezes sighing in the larches, 
Roses sweeter far than musk. 

Stars that glimmer through the arches. 

Twilight and a silent river. 
Silver gray and veiled in mist; 

Lilac lights that burn and quiver; 
Sky of dusky amethyst 

Arching o'er the mist-spanned river. 

Fairy -land with strange lights gleaming, 
Land of vision and of dream, 

Strange, indeed, thy mystic seeming, — 
Strange thy fairy-haunted stream, 

Strange thy dim star's distant gleaming. 



[75] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



INSPIRATION 

The things of every day are all so sweet; 
The morning meadows wet with dew, 
The dance of daisies in the noon, the blue 

Of far-off hills where twilight shadows lie. 

The night with all its tender mystery of sound 

And silence, and God's starry sky! 

Oh ! life — the whole of life — is far too fleet, 
The things of every day are all so sweet. 

The common things of life are all so dear. 
The waking in the warm half -gloom 
To find again the old familiar room. 

The scents and sights and sounds that never tire. 
The homely work, the plans, the lilt of baby's 
laugh. 

The crackle of the open fire, 

The waiting, then the footsteps coming near. 

The opening door, the hand clasp and the kiss. 
Is heaven not, after all, the now and here.'^ 
The common things of life are all so dear. 



[76] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



BEYOND 

Shall we go, you and I, to the land of Never-More 
And pluck again the flowers in the sunshine of that 

shore? 
There^s the happy home of childhood, there our 

dear ones for us wait, 
There are joy and health and youth; but an angel 

guards the gate! 
Alas, alas, our eyes are dim, hearts faint, and 

footsteps sore — 
We cannot cross the gulf that hes 'twixt us and 

Never-More! 

Shall we go, you and I, to the land of Might-Have- 

Been? 
Never eye beheld such beauty, never was such 

glory seen! 
There the good we meant to do and the hopes of 

long ago 
Stand ready for our gaining; there our unborn 

blossoms blow. 
What we longed for there is ours; but a black mist 

drops between — 
We shall never find the mirage-land, the lovely 

Might-Have-Been ! 



[77] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Shall we go, you and I, to the land of Far- A way? 

It lies beyond the coming night, beyond the dying 
day. 

There 'wait us all the glory and the joy we never 
had; 

There is water for the thirsting, and laughter for 
the sad; 

There the pure await the patient; you and I, be- 
loved, may 

Press onward to the happiest land — the land of 
Far-Away! 



[78] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE JAPANESE COURTSHIP 

Little dream-home in the vale of Kumaria, 

Shrouded in mists from the sea; 
Realm of the rose and the scented wistaria, 

Lovely tonight must thou be. 
Fuji, the snow-capped, moon-silvered mountain, 

Guardeth my small paradise; 
Frail little insect stars spangle the fountain, 

Dewy-winged fireflies. 

Little dream-home, where the moon's opalescence 

Shimmers afar down the vale. 
What thinks my love, in the soft iridescence 

Listing the wild nightingale? 
Sweetest of dwellings, the heart of Wistaria 

Calls me to her and to thee; 
Soon shall the mists o'er the vale of Kumaria 

Fold round my home and me! 



[79] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

ROSES 

Roses, roses everywhere 

In the merry month of June! 

On the perfume-laden air 

Comes to us the song-bird's tune. 

Roses by the castle tall, 

Roses by the crumbling wall, 

Roses, roses now for all, 
Roses everywhere! 

Roses red and roses white. 

Pink and yellow, too; 
Red ones for the brown-eyed girls. 

White ones for the blue. 

Roses blooming by the way. 
Brought to us by sunny June; 

Oh, enjoy them while you may; 
Winter comes, alas ! too soon. 

Roses sweet beyond compare, 

Roses for the pure and fair, 

Roses here and roses there, 
Roses everywhere! 

Roses red and roses white, 

Pink and yellow, too; 
Red ones for the brown-eyed girls. 

White ones for the blue. 
[80] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



A REVERIE 

There is a charm that hes in the fading light, 
In evening glories and in autumn leaves, 

The sweet, still air that bathes the worid at night, 
The golden beauty of the Harvest Sheaves. 

There is a wistful longing in the sky 

Whose azure blue is flecked with shining gold. 
So bright with fragrant fragments of the world on 
high, 

Or pale with dying cloudlets gray and cold. 

There is a charm in youth that calms each fear, 
Braves all troubles, scorning every care; 

There is a joyous zest that mocks each tear 
When hope is young and all the world so fair. 

There is a happy peace that rests o'er age. 

And gently smoothes the furrowed brow of Time 

That softly turns the last remaining page. 

And passes, with the Soul, Death's boundary 
line. 



[81] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



MISS SPRINGTIME 

The moon, like a ship of silver, 
Sails o'er blue leagues of air. 

Full of the subtlest fragrance 

From a spring world, hidden and fair, 

That sleeps like a princess enchanted 
In a palace, costly and rare. 

Hasten, O fairy hero, 

Enter the Forest of Dreams; 

Whisper the flowers are budding; 
Hearken the flow of the streams; 

Waken her fully; 't is springtime. 
Lovely with shadows and gleams ! 



[82] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE TEMPLE 

I built to music; what I wrought seemed beautiful 

and fair and strong — 
A pleasure house I planned in thought, and 

cheered my labors with a song. 
A palace for my heart it was, and all things lovely 

it should hold; 
I could not dream that life should pass save gaily, 

in my house of gold. 

But evening came, and darkness fell; the sunset 

faded, music died. 
Would that my heart had builded well. In vain 

my eyes sought far and wide. 
The palace with its gleaming walls, its blossoming 

gardens, rich and rare gay. 
Its gilded roof, its sculptured halls, had vanished 

with the twilight gray. 

Then through the night I built again, in silence, 

on the mountain-crest; 
Through all the darkness and the rain I labored 

still, nor sought for rest. 
I toiled as one in a dream may toil, nor think to 

understand; 
I waited for the dawn's first gleam to show me 

what my grief had planned. 
[83] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Day came; the slow-revolving hours of night were 

done; day came at last. 
On marble walls and lofty towers the bright sun 

shone. I stood aghast 
Too wondrous, this, for heart or mind! Beneath 

dark Sorrow's great control. 
Through Suffering's night, though I was blind» 

Grief built a temple for my soul! 



[84] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



NATURE'S CHILD 

Oh, I am a child of the country, and I love not the 
cities grim, 

My heart is akin to the wild things, and the wood- 
lands vast and dim 

Where the winds and the brook make music, and, 
faint from his cool retreat. 

Comes the voice of the thrush at even, in a ma- 
drigal wild and sweet. 

Oh, I am a child of the country, and the orchard 

knows my tread 
When the boughs shine white with blossoms, and 

the buds lie pink and red. 
And hand in hand, in the moonlight, go my soul's 

beloved and I; 
And we need no words to question, no words to 

make reply. 

Oh, I am a child of the country, and I love the 
fields at morn. 

Where the air comes fresh and fragrant, and the 
joy of the day is born; 

Loud carols the cheerful robin to the Knnet over 
the way. 

And the growing things, and the birds, and I wel- 
come the dawn of day. 



[85] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE NEW PEOPLE 

Were you e'er on the beach o' Be-Lazy Bay 
Where the Hobbledy-Hopes hop out o' the spray, 
With laughing and smiHng and ways so beguiling, 

That make you feel gladsome with glee? 
Now a Hobbledy-Hope is a creature, you know. 
Who says he will take you where'er you will go 

In the country called Happy Hope-ee. 



And the Hobbledy-Hopes say that Hope-ee is 

where 
Those fine castles are that you built out of air, 
On hilltops commanding, in real marble standing, — 

Whatever you've wished for is there! ' 
There are gardens and green glades and glimpses 

of sea. 
And in front of each house grows a laurel-wreath 

tree; 
There no one will say: "You are dreaming all 

day," — 
In the country of Happy Hope-ee. 



[86] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Each Hobbledy-Hope has a Kttle Half Hour, 
A boat that keeps sailing in sunshine or shower; 
You watch the winds veering, the rigging, the 
sheering, 
As they bound o'er the billows of Be- Working- 
Sea; 
Then a Hobbledy-Hope he will course you away 
From the Be-Loafing-Beach of that Be-Lazy Bay 
To the country of Happy Hope-ee. 



[87] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

RING, SCOTTISH BELLS 

Toll, bluebells, toll — 

Toll for the fallen brave who fell for Scotland — 
toll! 
The Junetide woods are sweet, but they 
Who loved them best are far away. 
Toll for the passing of the brave — 
For those on whose untimely grave 
No flow'r will lift its Springtide light! 
In threnody o'er pine-clad height 
Ring sorrow for our nation's loss — 
The heroes of the Sword and Cross. 
Toll curfews o'er the shadowed grass 
For dreams of youth, for hopes which pass. 
Peal through the haunt of bird and leaf 
The passion-music of our grief — 

The requiem of the fallen brave who died for 
Scotland — toll! 

Ring, bluebells, ring — 
Ring the fame of those who died for Scotland's 
glory — ring! 
Let your belfries ev'ry one 
Chime a gladsome carillon 
Underneath the shaken firs 
For the patriot blood which stirs. 
Fires the soul of youth today — 
For the honour beyond price. 
[88] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Noble death of sacrifice ! 
Swing, swing, bluebells, and extol 
The conquest of the quenchless soul! 
From shore to shore, o'er glen and brake, 
Let the sylvan chorals wake 
Echoes lyrical that well 
O'er dawn-bright fields of asphodel 
For the mighty hosts who fight 
'Neath St. Michael's shield of light! 
Swing, swing, bluebells — clash and ring 
On the golden winds of Spring! 
Ring for the deathless souls that live, live for 
Scotland — ring! 



! 



[89] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

EXPECTATION 

Dawn 

Dawn! Ah, what is coming today? 
Ye waking flowers, say! 

Peeping from out a dewy veil, 
I see your faces pale. 

A solemn azure floods the sky, 
The stars grow faint on high. 

What was that whisper in the trees.? 
Was it only the breeze.'^ 

O eager heart, less wildly beat. 
Listen for coming feet! 

Noon 

Surely I walk in Paradise, 

Or so it seems to me, 
Beneath a lustrous purple sky. 

Beside a purple sea! 

Though hollowed here, on either hand 

Soft swells the lovely sheen 
Of wave-like hills, the gorse is gold 

Upon their tender green. 

[90] 






THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

And fairy-purses, scarce a break 

In all the crowded bloom, 
-Make carpets thick, alive with bees 
Half drunken with perfume. 

No sound, no sight, to jar the sense — 

Only a lark's glad voice 
Prepares the way of bliss to be 

With herald cry, "Rejoice!" 

And I, like one in happy dreams. 

All joy beneath, above. 
Stretch forth my eager hand to pluck 

The perfect rose of love! 

Sunset 

The poplar-leaves are fire, their stems are gold; 
The reaped fields stretch towards the western 
gleam; 
The silent waters all things imaged hold 

As though they were asleep, and this their 
dream. 

The gold fades into pink, the pink to red. 
Every rich color to faint opal turns; 

The moon's pearl boat sinks to its watery bed; 
Peace, peace for all — save for the heart that 
yearns — 



[91] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

The heart that waits and yearns, that hopes and 
fears, 

For one who, long expected, still delays ! 
Alas, my weary eyes grow dim with tears. 

And still alone I pace the beaten ways! 



Twilight 

Pale hueless twilight! Through the leaves 
Shivers a strange and eerie sigh; 

And, see, beneath Heav'n's dusky eaves, 
One star on high ! 

The scent of violets ev'rywhere. 

With odors from the pine-trees blent. 

Rises like incense on the air 
And is not spent. 

How clearly now in this deep hush 
Sounds yonder beck that flows along 

'Neath hawthorn-bough and lilac bush 
With wordless song! 

iEolian whispers thrill the breeze, 
And, while I dream my watch is o'er, 

A wild voice wails among the trees, 
"No more! No more!*' 

[92] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Night 

Masses of ebon shade 

Broken by moonbeams white. 
Silence in copse and dell, on hill and glade 

The solemn hush of night. 

Sleep with her host of dreams 

Broods over hall and cot. 
And that now is real which only seems. 

And that which was is not. 

Alas, and can it be 

That day is wholly gone.^^ 
Cold midnight shadows earth and sky and sea. 

And yet I watch — alone! 

Is it the moon that flings 

So soft a glory round.? 
Or is it some kind angel's shining wings 

Piercing the gloom profound.? 

Oh, vision of delight, 

Dr^^ thou the tears I weep ! 
Fold me against thy bosom lily-white. 

And let me — let me — sleep! 



[98] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE FLOWERS' GOSSIP 

I sat beside the window in the sunset's waning 

light; 
The gold and scarlet colors faded from the heavens 

bright. 
I heard the wild goose honking as on wing it 

crossed the lake. 
A heron in the rushes bent his head his thirst to 

slake. 
The breezes told of friendship as they blew in o'er 

the bay, 
And everything was peaceful at the closing of the 

day. 

I heard the breezes telling how the tulip kissed the 

rose 
That was blushing in the hollow where the white 

spirea grows; 
How they heard the hare-bell ringing out its love 

for Columbine; 
How two butterflies were dancing on a leafy wild 

grape vine; 
How the heliotrope was climbing up beside the 

hollyhock, 
And of how the honey-suckle was in love with 

four-o'clock. 



[94] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

And they told of how the wood-folk and the 
fairies all were friends; 

How they loved each other truly, and that friend- 
ship never ends; 

That one's joy is shared by others, and the flowers 
all rejoice 

When they hear a tale of fortune in the happy wild 
bird's voice. 



[95] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



BABY SAILOR 

Yo ho, little baby kin sailor, ho! 

Out over the Dreamyland Sea we go; 

Out under the stars in the evening sky. 

An odd Uttle couple, just you and I. 

We will set our sails, and away we'll float 

O'er the sunset sea in a magic boat. 

I will be captain and pilot and crew, 

While the one lone passenger, dear, is you. 

Softly above us the breezes will blow 

That come from the land of the afterglow; 

Filling our sails till we hurry away. 

Leaving behind us th^ pleasures of day. 

Till we reach the ocean of silver light. 

All dotted about with the isles of Night. 

Then swifter we'll speed through the waters deep 

Till we come at last to the bay of Sleep; 

And there, little one, we may end our quest 

In the blissful, beautiful land of Rest. 



[96] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



BABY LAND 

Calm and deep, calm and deep, 

Flows the silver stream 
To the Fairyland of Sleep, 

Ending in a dream. 
Far away, far away. 

Where the shadows roam — 
There, the sleepy sages say, 

Lies the Dreamland Home. 

Now we glide, now we glide 

In our fairy bark; 
O'er the ripple slightly ride — 

Ride into the dark. 
All afloat, all afloat, 

Down the silver stream. 
In our idly rocking boat, 

Drifting in a dream. 

Spirits nigh, spirits nigh. 

While our shallop goes, 
Even croon a lullaby. 

Little eyes to close. 
Little lips, little Ups 

Smile, — our shallop fast 
Soft into the harbor slips — 

Slumberland at last! 
[97] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



NATURE'S MUSIC 

O'er the rain-washed roofs the chilling winds of 

winter sweep. 
And, blending with their mournful sound, I seem 

to hear a strain 
Of sweetest music, soft and low, above the plash 

of driving rain — 
A melody whose faintest echoes roll forever in my 

soul. 

One summer day long, long ago, when raindrops 

fell (thus angels weep) 
When winds blew as they blow tonight, and clouds 

obscured the dusky pole, 
A friend's lithe fingers touched the keys and filled 

the air with harmony. 
Whene'er the wind sweeps from the sky it bears 

those echoes back to me. 

Again I hear the sweet, low strains, Uke murm'ring 

ripples of the sea, 
Or mother's song to lull to rest the baby sleeping 

on her breast. 
Anon the music louder swells, and grander, nobler 

than before, 
Such strains as fill the courts of kings or lead the 

pageantry of war. 
[98] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Then, gliding slow in stately measure, the heav- 
enly notes ring full and clear 

As when, beneath the lofty nave of some dim 
church where twilight reigns. 

The organ peal falls on my ear, that angels bright 
might pause to hear. 

While echoes roll from arch to arch and strike 
against the storied panes. 

And now once more the theme has changed, and 

sweeter falls, in cadence low — 
A twisted chain of harmony, each note a pearl of 

melody. 
A few soft chords — the melting strain now dies 

away, more soft, more slow. 
And silence reigns. Yet in my soul still echoes on 

the wondrous lay 
A master's mind had hid in notes, and TuUa's 

fingers found that day. 



[99] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE LIFE OF A BREEZE 

Born at the first faint gleams of dawn. 
Waking the flowers with its baby breath. 

Carrying tidings of coming morn, 
"Life is awaking," it softly saith. 

Speeding away o'er the sunny lea. 

Rushing along in a crazy whirl. 
Hurrying over the open sea. 

Breaking the waves into showers of pearl. 

Murmuring low in the forest pine. 

Rustling the leaves on the marsh's brink, 

Waving the fronds of the drooping vine 
Over the pool where the dun deer drink; 

Dying at eve when the sun hangs low. 
Bidding farewell to the tree-tops high. 

Sinking away with the evening glow, 
Its hfe goes out with a little sigh. 



[100] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

LITTLE CHERUB 

Oh, hush thee, my baby; the great world is sleep- 
mg, 
And night soars above us with black, drooping 
wings; 
Let no fears come nigh thee, for mother is by thee, 
And sweetly and softly a lullaby sings. 

Oh, close, drowsy eyelids, now; close them, my 
baby. 
And let thy fair head on the pillow repose; 
Then sleep will steal softly and lure thee to dream- 
land. 
Oh, hush thee, my darling ! thy tired eyes close ! 

The cool wind comes murmuring down through 
the valley. 

Whispering low as it rustles along. 
Swaying the long grass all dripping with dewdrops. 

And hushing the world with its low, sweet song. 

Oh, hush thee, my baby! the shadows are deep- 
'ning; 
The night-wind's cool breathing will soothe 
thee to rest. 
May heaven defend thee and sweet sleep attend 
thee, 
And God's holy angels watch over thy rest! 

[101] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



LIFE'S TOYS 

Oh, the Kttle boy is tired tonight — 

He has played the whole long day; 
With coos and laughs he has happy been. 

So happy and cheery and gay! 
And what has made the little boy tired? 
You'll be quite surprised when you know. 

\^Tiy, the wooden dog Ted 

With the wiggly head, 
And the horse that will not go. 

And, oh, he's so tired when bedtime comes. 
And he's robed in his gown of white. 
He's fast asleep in his mother's arms 
Before he can say good night. 

But when the morning's first beams 

Peep in at the Uttle boy. 
He jumps from his bed to his mother's arms 

With one glad whoop of joy. 
And why is the little boy happy today .'^ 
You'll be quite surprised when you know. 

Why, the wooden dog Ted 

With the wiggly head. 
And the horse that will not go. 



[102] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE CHALLENGE 

The autumn woods are calling, I must wander far 

away; 
They are calling, I must follow; O dear heart, 

I cannot stay. 
For the hills are red with maple, and the sky 

above is blue — 
It is autumn, and O Autumn! when you call, I 

follow you. 

Oh, I thrill to see the sumac that's like banners m 

the breeze, 
There's a challenge in the forest 'twixt the red and 

yellow trees; 
There's a myst'ry in the asters that grow beside 

the way — 
Hark! the autumn woods are calling; when you 

call they call, I cannot stay. 



[108] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



AFTER THE WAR 

Oh, well for the men in martial bonds, 
For the young strong feet and the ready hands! 
For them the laurels of Fame be twined — 
But what for those who are left behind? 

There is work for the willing hands to do, 
Comforts to store — not scant, nor few; 
And thousands shall live to bless the care 
That wrought for the sick and the wounded here. 

There is Prayer for the longing Ups that cry 
To the God of Battles as days go by. 
Pleading — how earnestly! — in their pain 
For those who may never come back again. 

There is Hope for the waiting hearts that know 
How righteous our Cause, how false the foe. 
Sure that our God, the Just, the True, 
Can save us by many or by few. 

Work — for gathering goodly store; 
Prayer, more urgent than e'er before; 
Hope, uplifting the heart and mind — 
These are for those who are left behind! 

[104] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

And a Vision shines of the days to come — 
No clash of weapons, no beat of drum; 
And glorious there, with her crown restored, 
Stands Peace, triumphant with sheathed sword! 



[105] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

MUSIC'S VOICE 

White girlish hands along the keyboard skim. 

And sweet and clear 
A myriad skylarks pour their wak'ning hymn 

To trance mine ear. 
The cowslips gleam along the meadow track, 

The pear trees blow. 
The Spring song's magic calls lost Springtimes 
back 

From long ago! 

White girlish hands caress the answering keys, 

A raptured hum, 
And, hark, it is the wedding of the bees 

To which we come! 
The queen and consort soar through realms unseen 

Of sunlit glow. 
'T was thus, by long pursuit, I won my queen 

Once long ago ! 

White girlish hands about the keyboard flash, 

And list'ning ears 
Catch the sweet singing, 'twixt the paddles' plash, 

Of gondoliers, 
Venetian palaces in moonhght gleam, 

Calm waters flow, 
As when we drifted there and dreamed our dream 

Sweet long ago! 

[106] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

White girlish hands with tenderer motion sweep, 

And shades grow long; 
The sweet andante breathes of rest and sleep — 

Heav'n's slumber song. 
Tired eyes close softly with the ending day. 

The night falls slow. 
And shall we find, when breaks the morning ray. 

Our long ago? 

O sweet musician, resting in the Lord, 

With heavenly art 
Thou hast, for all time, struck the common chord 

In human heart! 
For each these songs — these songs that need no 
words — 

Life's story hold; 
They echo like the music of the birds. 

That ne'er grows old! 



[107] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



FLOWERS PATRIOTIC 

First a tiny little seedling, then a green-cased roD 

of blue, 
Through the sunny summer hours in the marsh 

and swamp it grew. 
Till the flower-bud unfolded, spreading petals to 

the sky. 
Where the marsh-grass waved around it, and the 

trees with branches high. 

By the road grew wild red roses; there the daisies^ 
gold and white, 

Waved their silv'ry-shining petals from the morn- 
ing to the night. 

And the iris and the roses, and the silver daisies^ 
too. 

Make the colors of our country, for 't was red and 
white and blue. 

Now these flowers were not unnoticed, for a boy^ 

when passing by. 
Saw the roses and the blue flag, and the daisies 

caught his eye; 
Said he, "I'll be patriotic, I will make myself a 

crown 
Of the roses, flags, and daisies and surprise my 

friends in town. " 

[108] 






THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

So he made the wreath he thought of, with the red 

and white and blue; 
All the people flocked to see it — they had seen 

the flowers, too. 
So the iris, called the blue flag, growing in the 

deep moss-hag. 
With red roses and white daisies, made the colors 

of our flag. 



[109] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



NIGHT AND DAY 

Lo, it is night! 

How swiftly fall 

The shadows, darkly drowning all 

The lovely golden light! 

Lo, it is day! 

How swiftly fly 

The shadows from the earth and sky. 

And melt in light away! 

And so, at last. 

Swift death shall hide 

The light of hf e with darkest tide. 

And dreaded shadows cast. 

But glorious day 

Shall sweep away 

Those shadows, never more to rise 

In new diviner skies ! 



[110] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



OLD GLORY DIVINE 

Proudly marched the boys in khaki, 
Bravely, swiftly striding onward 
Toward their goal across the waters, 
There to fight for liberty. 

Bright above them waved Old Glory, 
Proudly waved, o'er cheering thousands, 
Flung her silken folds toward heaven — 
Precious emblem of the free! 

Slowly marched the men in khaki. 
Slowly, wearily marched onward; 
Pale and wan, thinned ranks turned homeward 
From a hard-won victory. 

Still above them waved Old Glory, 
But her silken folds were tattered. 
Blood-stained, shell-torn, still she fluttered — 
Men's eyes, tear-dimmed, could not see. 

Yet, for each shed drop of heart's blood, 
Brighter shone the bars of crimson; 
For each prayer from loved ones rising 
Gleamed the white stripes more and more. 

[Ill] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

While, with heaven's own blue commingled, 
With the light from each life given, 
Gleamed the stars; so dear Old Glory 
Shone brighter than before. 



[112] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



POPPIES AND LILIES 

A road there is that runs from dark to dawn, 
A dim road winding through the land of Dreams, 
And on the right is spread a Hhed lawn. 
The fair white blossoms drowsily uplift 
Their slumb'rous faces; softest breezes drift 
Their dreamy fragrance; and a sound of streams 
That, all unseen, in lulling music run, 
Unto the soul comes like a benison. 

A dim lake lies beyond the lily-meads — 
All things are dim within this twilit place — 
Fringed darkly round with slender swaying reeds, 
And shadowy hills beyond them vaguely loom; 
And on the left hand myriad poppies bloom. 
And on the roadway these encroach apace. 
From out their subtle odors Dreams are born 
That rise and wander with us till the morn. 

And, when I tread upon the poppied way 
With bare feet 'mid the flowers sinking deep; 
I would that here forever I might stay 
Beside the lilies and the twilit lake. 
Too soon must I the company forsake 
Of clinging Dreams and leave the land of Sleep; 
And while the last farewell is softly sighed 
The golden gates of morn are opened wide! 
[113] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



AN INDIAN COURTSHIP 

Lie not within thy wigwam, 

Singing- Water, Singing- Water; 
The owl is eaUing, caUing; 

The stars are riding high; 
Oh, come to greet thy lover, 
Great-chief's daughter, good-chief's daughter, 
The mother pines are waiting 
To sing thy lullaby! 

Thou 'rt fleet as is a coyote. 

Little Star-eyes, little Star-eyes, 
As fleet as is the coyote. 
As light as is the fawn; 
Thou 'rt lovely as the sun queen 
In the fair skies, in the far skies. 
Who rides her shining mustang 
O'er Heaven's purple lawn. 

My hands with blood are crimson. 
Little Sky-lark, soaring Sky-lark, 
With blood that was the white man's. 
His scalp is at my side; 
I fight until the shadows 
Softly fall dark, gently lie dark, 
And I shall be a chieftain 

If thou wilt be my bride! 

[114] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



LITTLE FAIRIES 

I sat beside a streamlet, flowing peacefully along; 
And as it flowed the murmuring waters sang to me 

a song. 
Now gay it was, now plaintive, so it lulled me far 

away 
To the pleasant land of slumber where the little 

fairies stay. 

Then all those fairy creatures gathered round me 

— so I dreamed; 
And as I looked a countless, brilliant multitude it 

seemed. 
As if five thousand rainbows and a thousand stars 

of light 
Had blended all together to dispel the gloom of 

night. 

And then I asked, "Why do you never come our 
world to see? 

Why is it that you always dwell in realms of fan- 
tasy?" 

Then spoke the queen of all the rest, "We come 
to earth each day. 

Though some know not that we are there, and 
some turn us away. 

[115] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

"The sympathy that leads you to reUeve another's 

woe. 
The love you give to others in the journey here 

below, 
The hope that makes you meet the hardships, 

loyal, strong, and true. 
The faith that makes you happy e'en when sorrow 

comes to you, — 

"Lo! what are these but fairies? Oft they come 
to you in vain; 

And if they are not welcomed they will never 
come again. " 

Her voice became the rippling of the little wood- 
land stream. 

When I awoke and realized that it was all a dream. 



[116] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



TRI-COLOR 

I was tired of earth's turmoil and sorrow. 
Worn out with the care and the strife, 

And so wearily sought I to borrow 

From the cool fragrant garden new life. 

And as 'mong the blossoms I wandered, 
"My Ufe is a garden," I thought; 

"Each day like a rosebud unfolding. 
With thorns for the trials it brought." 

And the first flowers I spied were white roses 
"My To-morrows, " I thought with a start; 

"Each petal a hope that reposes. 
Unsullied and pure, in my heart. 

"My Yesterdays — the yellow flowers, 
With their golden memories fair; 

Each petal a record of happy hours 
Spent far from earth's toil and care. 

"And a crimson bloom is each To-day, 

With its glowing, ardent hue. 
They are the best, for they do not say 

'ShaU be,' or 'Has been,' but 'Do!'" 



[117] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



LIFE 

Youth 

Life is a song that is caroled in tune, 
A roundelay sweet in the gay month of June, 
A cup that is filled up with wine to the brim, 
A delicate goblet with ruby-crowned rim; 
A lilac that fragrantly blooms in the spring; 
A bird winging upward, nor ceasing to sing; 
A song, and a wine-cup, a bird, and a flower, 
A wish to achieve and a yearning for power. 



Middle Age 

Life is a burden, a routine of care. 
That bows down the figure, and whitens the hair, 
A dull, changeless labor that never is done, 
'Neath a sky that is leaden, with no cheering sun; 
Life is a wheel, to which all men are bound. 
That grinds men beneath it, each time it goes 

round; 
A reasonless striving, and sighing for wings 
To fly from the ceaseless oppression of Things. 



[118] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Old Age 

Life is a waiting for what is to come, 

A waiting for rest, and the glad going home; 

The great preparation for things yet to be, 

When all shall be clear, and at last we shall see. 

Life is a wonderful, mystical quest 

That some take with a sigh, and some with a 

jest. 
But all, like a child who is tired by play, 
Stop a moment to rest, and in sleep slip away. 



[119] 



L. 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

MYSTERY 

Along my garden's winding path I strolled. 

The world was fragrant with the breath of morn. 
The early sunshine bathed the earth in gold — 

A day was born. 
The changing shadows fell upon the ground, 
All flecked with gold where'er the bright sun 
shone, 
And there, beside my garden path, I found 
A rose half-blown. 

I looked, and marveled that it was so fair. 

So perfectly 'twas formed by nature's art, 
Its half -unfolded petals laying bare 

Its golden heart. 
Its perfumed breath, that stole upon the air, 

The loveliness of each exquisite shade. 
The satin texture of each petal rare. 
So finely made. 

Like some fair princess of a world of love. 

It seemed a fairy gift, a thing apart. 
With all the purity and freshness of 

A maiden's heart. 
I wondered had the sunshine and the rain 

Performed the miracle this seemed to be — 
Alone? Yet question not. It will remain 
God's mystery. 

[120] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



THE MAGIC RIVER 

We were gliding down the Hudson on a dreamy, 

moonlight night. 
And the inky waves were ghst'ning in the mystic 

tranquil light, 
While on either side the Highlands, in majestic 

silence, rose. 
And their huge, dark forms seemed sleeping in a 

calm, serene repose. 

Overhead the constellations seemed like forms of 

living light. 
To the south the gleaming Archer drew his bow 

of silver bright. 
And the myriad twinkling starlights journeying 

toward the western sky 
Showed the deep black mountains blacker as they 

passed their summits high. 

First came the Storm King in his grandeur, rising 

stern, abrupt, and steep. 
As the guardian of the Highlands, placed his 

silent watch to keep; 
At his feet flowed magic water, and he touched an 

elfin strand. 
For the precincts that he guarded all were those of 

fairyland. 

[121] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

Beyond him rose old Cro' Nest with his mystic 

light and shade, 
With the bluebells all a-ringing in the forest and 

the glade. 
And I heard a tiny plashing of the Uttle culprit 

fay, 
Going forth to do his penance ere the breaking of 

the day. 

Soon I heard the fairies singing, shouting loud 
their triumph cry. 

For the tiny elf returning from his journey in the 
sky; 

And from out the wooded hillside shone the twink- 
ling spark of light 

Of his Httle flame-wood lantern, kindled by a 
comet bright. 

On we passed; the moon was sinking, and her last 
faint silv'ry beam 

Lingered for one fleeting instant, and then van- 
ished from the stream. 

All the crickets stopped their chirping, and the 
bluebells all were still. 

And the fairy song was silent as we left th' en- 
chanted hill. 



[122] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 



FLEUR-DE-LIS 

Clad all in splendid purple, 

Color of royalty. 
Stalwart the ranks about him, 

Proclaiming fealty. 
Though born to war and peril, 

He holds eternal truce. 
Lord of the misty marches. 

Knight of the Flow'r-de-Luce. 

Flower of Bourbon glory. 

Firm on a foreign strand. 
Alien the skies above him. 

Dauntless he yet doth stand. 
Yeomanry strong about him, 

Each with uplifted lance. 
Swearing, forever and ever. 

Fidelity to France. 

Nearer his comrades gather. 

Sighing a vesper song. 
His lady love is stealing. 

Star-sprinkled fields along. 
Twilight doth come slowly drifting. 

Towed by the crescent moon — 
Sir Knight of the misty marshes, 

Keepeth his tryst with June! 
[US] 



THE FAIRY ISLANDS AND OTHER POEMS 

THE CAPTAIN 
1917 

Lord, our Captain, Who has led 

Through the storms our bark before, 
Past the phantom shapes of dread. 

Through the bursting flames of war, — 
Pilot, Captain, unto Thee 

Now we come to ask Thy aid, 
Not in mock humility, 

But because we are afraid. 

Not of others of mankind 

Who before us bar the way, — 
Not for dangers well defined 

Do we ask Thy help today; 
Not for war-clouds that appear 

O'er our destiny's scarred brow. 
But because ourselves we fear, 

Lord, our Captain, pray we now. 

Lord, our Captain, guide our bark 

O'er the stormy seas ahead, 
Where our passions hover dark. 

And our self-control is dead; 
Where our energies are stilled. 

And our manhood's best is gone, — 
Through the breakers we have willed 

Lord, our Captain, lead us on! 
[124] 



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